Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-11-03
The State Tax Question.

he journal OF Milwaukee Is very
industrious in its efforts to prejudice
the public against Gov. Rusk and
his administration. 1t goes far as
tray from the line of truth in dis
cussing the tax question, employing
such contemplate insinuations that
only disgraces first class journalism.
IL dare not employ figures that don't
lie. The Sentinel, however, does.
Read:
There is no taxation for state pur-
poses in Wisconsin. That this re.
markabe result Of Republican adj
ninistration should paralyze the
Democratic press is entirely natural.
Somebody has called the attention
of the journal of this city to the
fact that there is a null tax for
commoD-school purposes, amounting
to 800, 3l6.l4 for Milwaukee county.
He has neglected, however, to i'm.
press the JOurRul with the other
fact that the term taxation for state
purposes means taxation to aefray
the current expenses of state gov
eminent; and the still other fact that
this | mill tax for schools is made
necessary by an act of the legisla.
lure, passed unanimously. Not a
dollar of tax is raised to carry on
the state government. A most stall
wart fact.
As far as Milwaukee county is
concerned-well, Milwaukee county
can well afford to paddock its tongue.
We have mighty good thing of it,
Last year Milwaukee county paid in.
to the state treasury SUBSIDIES.
That's good deal of money. But
Milwaukee county drew out of the
state treasury 1921, 290.O9, or Sl3,-
1851 more than II paid in. OIL
this, SS0,4l6.46 was paid to this
county for school purposes and $40
1884, SO for the care of insane. Uu-
der the law, Milwaukee county re-
celyes S2.75 "A week per capita for
the care Of its unatics, while the
other counties receive only $3.50 for |
the same purpose. Another point |
worth noting Is that under the laws |
of 1885, tax of $4,000 year is
imposed on the state at large for the |
support of the Normal school in this |
city, 100000 being the amount so
far raised for the purpose.
As to the Milwaukee county tax
for this year, amounting to 500, $40
l4-this is on the valuation Of the |
State Board of Assessment. If this
board had taken the valuation of |
the local assessors, this tax would |
have been more than $4,000 more |
than it Is. Yet the local valuation |
of $101, 655 ,236 for 1887 is certainly |
low. Az TO the division of the mill |
tax among the counties, the law
provides shat the apportionment
Snail be on the basis of the number
of children Of school age in each
county; if Milwaukee county wants
to pay less she must Kill off her
children or secure the repeal of the /.
law. The state administration has |
no other option than to administer
the law AZ II Is. But Milwaukee |
county has too good a thing of it to
make any complaint.
If the Jouraal will undertake to
talk about taxation, it should get It's
information from somebody who /
knows something about it, The |
economical character of this Repub.
lican administration is shown in
another matter. The last legislature, .
considering the amounts needed for
the State University and other I'M /
teresls, authorized the governor and /
secretary of state to levy "A general |
taxa tax for state purposes -of |
100000, leaving it 70 their judg-
ment To determine if the amount
might be necessary to hquIdate the
demands on the treasury. They
have decided, however, that although
the margin will be small, TO omit
that levy, relying on the strictest
economy to make both ends meet
This involves "a cash saving TO the
people of 100000.
The admirable management of
state affairs which practically leaves
no sum to be raised by taxation for
state purposes, ought To receive the
commentator of men of al parties.